Chapter 394: The power of friendship, love, and faith (5)

-I don’t know if I’m using this thing right. It’s my first time using such a device. But send a report anyway. The situation is reaching its end. The enemy’s main unit has been thrown into confusion, and about the capture of the central figure… hmm. I can’t say for sure that it’s possible, but I’ll try my best for now. As soon as they are ready, they will be sent to Castle Rock. I don’t know if they’ll make it on time, but that’s their responsibility, not mine. The battle there will take a long time, so it probably won’t be a problem.

“I think it’s going well. It would be nice to prepare some footage or something. You’re also very inflexible. You just say what you want to say.”

-Just in case they’re curious. Let’s send the whole situation.

“Ah, I think it’s going to be sent.”

-You will receive the salvation of the light! Who dare! Who dare! Say something about demons!

-Gasp… Ahhhhhhhhh!

-Blaaaarrghh…

-Shut up! You dirty informants of the State!

-I’m an ally! Don’t attack! Ally! Stop! Ahhhhhhhhh!

-Dirty demon minions! Be cursed, demons! Even if you fall into the inferno and die, you will suffer forever!

- You pagan cult crazy bitch! Die! Die!!

-The apostle of God… Die… I… will fight even if I die…

“…”

“…”

“It’s worse than I thought.”

“Yes.”

-That’s all for my report. As you ordered, this is going to be discarded immediately after it’s sent. Oh, also, she said she had something to say. I disagreed, but you know her better than me, so I hope you understand this much.

-O-Oppa. H-How are you? I… I’m doing well. And so is Sora. It’s been two days since I haven’t seen you. Two… days. I-I miss you. Hic. I miss you so much. I’m so worried about how you’re doing… are you feeling better? Make sure you eat every meal and get treatment every day. Definitely! I’ll finish things up as soon as possible and come back. Please wait! Smack! Smack! Smack!

“…”

“…”

-I love you. Hihi.

“Blargh. I wish I didn’t see it.”

“Don’t react like that. It’s just cute. What’s the big deal?”

“It’s indeed cute, but it doesn’t look like that from the same woman’s perspective. Do you think I don’t do that because I can’t? Do you want me to show a decent aegyo?”

“No… I don’t think it will suit you.”

“Aren’t I cuter in appearance? I’m a little smaller and cuter than Jung Hayan, right? It’s too hard to say that she’s cute because she comes out and goes in. Wherever I look, I have to take that concept, and it just interferes with Hayan’s face. Hey, why do you keep picking your ears when someone is talking? You’re not ignoring me, are you?”

“No. It’s not that. My ears are itchy for some reason.”

“I guess someone is cursing you. You deserve it. It wouldn’t even be weird.”

“I think you’re being too harsh, Nuna.”

“But I’m didn’t say anything wrong. Pfff! You know that this time was particularly vicious, right? You have to be sure that the people involved in your operation will keep their mouths shut. Even if it is known, I will announce that I helped, but the image shouldn’t be damaged for no reason. It’s a holy army after all, right?”

“Yes. Right. It’s holy. Absolutely. Well, actually, you don’t have to worry about it. What happened there will always be treated as an unfortunate accident. Isn’t it ridiculous to question ethics in a war where killing and dying is a common occurrence?”

“Curse and magic that shake your mind are strictly taboo even within continental law. The same goes for black magic.”

“Since I don’t use magic or curse, I’m safe. The State will not use black magic, so it’s safe.”

“You’re good at getting away.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I could see Lee Jihye’s face giving exaggerated applause.

She was expressing admiration for my personality, but it was like pot calling the kettle black.

It was ridiculous to see that the hidden contributor who actively agreed with the plan and paid attention to the details was now showing to be conscious.

Of course, it wasn’t her true feelings. She was half teasing, and above all, she seemed to be in a good mood.

She kept humming while watching the footage over and over again.

The enemy fell into the trap.

As a commander, it certainly felt good.

The result was extraordinarily excellent considering there was no damage to the allies, and there weren’t going to be any useless prisoners.

But…

‘It’s a bit too much to be humming.’

“Hmmmm.”

She’s even moving her head up and down, feeling the rhythm.

I always thought I was trash, but when I saw Lee Jihye, I felt comforted knowing I was less of a piece of trash than her.

“It really is good to have you, you know? You made me realize that I am a little less vicious than others. You’re ruthless beyond belief. When the demon is summoned, it will probably think you’re its brother. Oh, has it already done that before?”

“…”

Apparently, she was thinking the same thing. Although I felt a sense of shame, I did not bother to show it.

I felt the need to change the topic before I was hurt any further.

When I opened up a serious conversation, I felt grateful to hear Lee Jihye answer sincerely.

“When will it arrive?”

“Anytime soon. By now, the news that our troops are approaching has probably been heard by the enemy force, too. I wanted to move a little bit more secretive, but as expected, our demon summoner doesn’t neglect to send out scouts even in the middle of a siege.”

“I wanted to surprise him. It’s a shame.”

“He will be surprised. The reconnaissance team keeps catching their scouts, so the enemy won’t even know its exact size. At best, they’d think of it as an assortment of support units. They all know that our troops went into the Republic. They must be thinking we gathered the remaining troops from here and there. Of course, there is no possibility that all of them had been detected-”

“Detection?”

“It’s just a guess. But it’s also an issue to be prepared for. If you’re in a position to lead a big force like this, you have to think about every possibility. Overall, the situation is fine. No, it’s a problem because it’s too fine.”

“What do you mean?”

“First of all, the movement of the troops. I can’t exactly figure it out, but I’m worried that there are too many troops out there. For example, think of a force that won’t matter regardless of whether it exists or it doesn’t. It would be right to say that it’s a surviving force that can interfere with maintaining the battlefield. It’s not always good to have many people in a fight. You have to think about the supply, and you have to consider the percentage of melees that can be protected with shield magic. Although the squad was separated from the main unit, it wouldn’t matter if such a small force is left out.”

“…”

“That’s why we haven’t heard good news from the other fronts yet. I was out of breath on the other fronts. It takes a blow with a little more power to make up for the previous losses.”

“What about the other circumstances?”

“I have it under control.”

“…”

“Almost the entire eastern front has been dominated. We could celebrate the fact that the enemy didn’t notice our movement towards Lindel, but that’s like saying that we don’t know how things outside of the Eastern Front are going. Both sides are paying as much attention as they can to each other’s movements. Our enemies are not fools. It’s quite problematic that the positions of the troops located where the mist summoner is are unknown. Some have been trapped nicely, but where are the others? It would be nice if they were wandering in the forest of fog, but what if they’re not?”

“Hmm…”

“In the strategy simulation data that you passed before, I thought that the demon summoner had a strong tendency to tighten and bite opponents, but the actual situation and the game are different. Rather, a single surprise attack can across more effectively if you have this kind of tendency.”

“If you’re right…”

“Yes. That means the soldiers currently in the forest may have been thrown away as well. It may look like they’ve gone too far, but in the first place, Yev Karina may not have even cared about it.”

“… …”

“Loosen your face up. It’s not necessarily bad. Just being able to bring some of the enemy troops into the forest of fog is a great achievement already. I wanted all of them to be trapped inside the fog, but that would be hoping for too much.”

“What would you do if you were Jin Qing?”

“Well. Aren’t I the same as you? What will you do?”

“Using the capital as an excuse and sending good bait to the forest of fog…”

“Attacking the main unit the moment they let down their guard. The same thing we’re doing now.”

‘This trash.’

I felt like I was cursing myself for some reason, but I couldn’t ignore the possibility.

Lee Jihye’s words were convincing explanations.

It was currently impossible to precisely determine how many troops entered where the mist summoner, Cheon Gwan-wi, was.

It was worth suspecting that not all of the squads had gone into the forest of fog.

There’s also the impossibility to rule out the chance that some troops were sent to the forest of fog as the rest turned back.

I focused on the map that Lee Jihye was closely looking at as she pointed to a spot with her finger.

“You’re right.”

“If our speculation is right, there is a high probability that we will bump into each other right here before entering Castle Rock. To be precise, there’s a possibility that we might get attacked. The terrain is disadvantageous for us and good for the enemy. The central unit in Castle Rock can also help. Of course, he may be distracted for a while in the siege, but anyone would be mad after encountering the one who screwed them up. And no offense, but when you provoke people, you have an insolent look on your face. I bet even the Buddha would feel pissed upon looking at you.”

“That hurt a little… Anyway, if you’ve read this far… I take it you’ve prepared countermeasures as well?”

“First, we pray that the enemy did not dig a trap. If they did, the only answer is to pierce through it. From there on, it’s a battle of tactics.”

‘Tactics.’

It was easy to say.

However, she admitted that the demon summoner was excellent when it came to such factors.

Even in a strategy simulation game based on the database obtained before, Lee Jihye had never beaten the demon summoner.

She even admitted it herself that she couldn’t win.

We didn’t know how much she had sharpened her skills since then, but the demon summoner was undoubtedly powerful.

With anxious thoughts, the soldiers continued to march.

Bang!

In that instant, a loud roar emerged from the road.

I thought it would unfold like that for some reason, but I felt even dirtier.

“Fuck…”

“… …”

“Do we have countermeasures prepared?”

“Yes.”

Although she nodded her head confidently, I knew she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

“I was hurt a lot, too, and I have to show that the game and the actual situation are different.”

I had no other option but to nod at what I heard afterward.

“You mean there are tactics in place?”

“I already have them in motion.”

“So what is that…”

“Tactic Kim Hyunsung.”

“Huh?”

“The tactic Kim Hyunsung. That’s the tactic I prepared.”

“Ah…”

“You know better than me. That’s why I kept hiding it.”

“Puhahahaha. Ah. Yes… Phew. I forgot that! I forgot our Hyunsung!”

I wasn’t sure if it should be called a tactic, but its destructive power alone could be regarded as such.

I laughed, but not because I was suffering from mania.

He’s a monster of expenditure created to house the gods.

He’s a real messenger who had been returned by Altanus and was favored by the Goddess Benignore.

His mythic-grade armament and the stats he had were already more than enough to call him a monster.

There was no need for complicated tactics.

Tactic Kim Hyunsung itself was all the strategy we needed.

“Initiate the tactic ‘Kim Hyunsung’!!”

“Roger that.”